UW Cinematheque | Louie Bluie (1985)

Before he tackled Crumb, director Zwigoff’s first movie was this intimate, funny, and moving documentary portrait of musician, artist, and raconteur Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong (1909-2003), whose 1930s recording of State Street Rag captivated the filmmaker. Filmed in Chicago while in his mid-seventies, Armstrong shares personal and professional anecdotes that collectively deliver a colorful portrait of an American life that should not be forgotten, and it’s all set to the wonderful music of Armstrong and his fellow musicians, like guitarist Ted Bogan.